Amusement apparatus.



"J. H. G URRAN.

AMUSEMENT APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED 001-6, 1910.

11,011,414. :1 1 Patented Dec12, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0., WASHINGTON. u. c.

J. H. GURRAN.

AMUSEMENT APPARATUS.

urmonxon FILED 001:. a, 1910.

Patented Dec. 12, 1911.

" 2 snnms-snnm 2.

Mar/75 COLUMBIA FL ANOGRAPH 60.. \vAsumo'mN. o. c.

JOHN HENRY CURRAN, 0F AUBURN, NEW YORK.

AMUSEMENT APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 6, 1910. Serial No. 585,715.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN HENRY CURRAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Auburn, in the county of Cayuga and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Amusement Apparatus, of which the following is a specification. v

My invention relates to that class of amusement devices commonly known as roundabouts, auto-whirls, etc., in which small cars capable of carrying one or more persons are caused to travel on an undulated, inclined or horizontal circular runway by a suitably stationed driving engine or by motor-cycles running thereon. Its objects are, first: to provide the said cars with devices whereby their horizontal poise may at all times be assured as they are driven around the said track or runway;

second: to relieve the shock or jar incident upon the sudden startingof the same; and third: to furnish simple connections between the cars or motor-cycles and the central point of the rotating mechanism which may in no-wise interfere with each other as the said cars or motor-cycles are driven or drive around the track.

I accomplish the aforementioned objects by the peculiar construction and adaptation of parts shown in the accompanying drawings on two sheets, in which:

Figure 1, is a plan view of my invention.

Fig. 2, is a longitudinal section of a car. Fig. 3, is an end elevation of Fig. 2. Fig. 4, is a longitudinal section of a car showing a somewhat modified form of the appliances shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 5, is an end elevation of Fig. 4. Fig. 6, is a cross section of an inclined circular runway or track with the cars and onemotor-cycle in position thereon, and Fig. 7, is a detail drawing, on an enlarged scale, of my appliance for relieving theshock or jar incident to a sudden starting of the driving mechanism, which starts the car or cars around the track.

Similar reference figures refer to simila parts in the several drawings.

An inclined circular runway or track 1, is supported in the desired incline by a suitable frame-work 2, which is arranged on its under side and rests on the ground. An interior circular opening 3, is formed therein, and of such diameter as will accommodate the placing in position and rotation of a horizontal driving wheel 4. The cars for passengers are shown at 5, and the position of the motor-cycles, when they are used, is seen at 6. A vertically inclined central shaft 7, which carries and turns with the horizontally inclined driving wheel 4, is stepped at its bottom end in a suitable step-piece 8, which is arranged with the frame work 2, and near that point it is provided with a circumferential groove 9, in which pass the ends of the screw-bolts 10, which are outwardly extended therefrom and through the said step-piece 8, as clearly seen in Fig. 6. A sustaining-piece or bar 11, is provided on the frame-work 2, in such position that the central shaft 7 may pass through it and the hub of the drivewheel 4, carried on the said shaft nearly rest thereon, as seen in Fig. 6.

A motor 12, of any desired pattern is pro- Patented Dec. 12, 1911. i

vided for turning the drive-wheel 4, when motor-cycle power is not available, a belt 13, connecting it therewith as seen in Fig. 1. A brake 14, for stopping the turning of the drive-wheel 4, when its turning power is shut ofi, is suitably hinged on the framework 2, the end opposite the braking end having a link-rod 1-5, connecting with a hand lever 16, which also is pivoted on the frame-work 2, outside of the circular runway or track 1. A spiral spring 17, consired points on its upper side and near its periphery is provided the double spiral spring 18, in the form of an inverted V, see Figs. 1, 6, and 7, the bottom ends of which are securely fastened on the spokes of the drive wheel 4. The top end of the said 7 double spiral spring 18, is turned in a continuous double circled loop 19, Figs. 1, and 7, in which freely'passes the sweep '20, the said loop being secured in position by suitable pins passing through the sweep at either side thereof. The outer end of the said sweep 20, is fastened to a centrally pivoted post 21, in the car 5, the other end being furnished with a pig-tail 22, that is bent around the central drive shaft 7, and rests on a collar fastened thereon. hen a motor-cycle is in use the sweep is furnished at its outer end with ahook which hooks into an eye which is clamped to the motor-cycle, and provided for that purpose, as shown at a, in Fig. 1, the other end being provided with a pig-tail as has been mentioned. here the several pig-tails pass on the central driving shaft, collars 23, are interposed and fastened on said central shaft so the said pig-tails can freely turn thereon. The sweeps 20, near a point outside of where they pass through the double loop 19, on the top of the double spiral spring 18, are provided with a clip-piece 24, which has extensions at either side of the sweep having slots therein. Near either end of the car an eye 25, is provided in which is hooked one end of a bracerod 26, the other end hooking in the slot of one of the extensions of the clip-piece 24., on the said sweep 20, as shown in Figs. 1, and 6, the said brace rod or rods serving to assure a normally straight tread or course for the wheels of the car as it is circled about the track aforementioned.

The cars preferably are constructed as light steel fabrics or boxes, joined at the ends by angled pieces as seen in Figs. 2, and 4, and are provided with suitable seats and other conveniences for their occupants. The end pieces are further provided, either above or below the horizontal plane of their axles, with pivot studs 27, which are firmly secured thereto, the object of which latter will presently be recognized.

Referring to Figs. 2, to 5, inclusive, it will be observed an axle-plate 28, having axle-boxes 29, at the sides, is pivoted on the said pivot-stud 27, of the end of the car 5, between said end and. an outer or shieldplate 30, which may be fastened on the top side of the car and dowznwardly extended therefrom in front of said axle-plate 28, and continued under the car and there secured, if so desired, as I have shown in Fig. 2. The said axle-boxes 29, are forwardly extended so that the axle 31, may freely turn in front of the shield-plate 30, and preferably with a space between, as seen in Fig. 2. Also they are extended into stops or rests 32, which serve to limit the turning action of the car body on the pivots, see Figs. 3, and 5, where they plainly show. The axle-piece or plate 28, may be upwardly extended into a hand lever b, passing through an opening 0, provided in the shield piece or plate 30, where it is turned downwardly at the top side of the car.

Having thus described the several parts of my improvements and their relation and arrangement, I will now describe the operation of the same.

Operation: In this class of amusement devices, the frame-work and the circular runway or track are usually made of sections so they may be knocked down and thus transported from place to place as the occasion demands. The frame-work and runway or track having been set up with the drive-wheel in place, the sweeps are passed through the loops at the top end of :the double spiral springs arranged and securely fastened on the drive wheel near its periphery, their pig-tails at the inner ends passed 011 the top of the central shaft of the drive wheel with suitable collar-pieces fastened between, their outer ends secured on the pivot-post of the cars and the bracerods adjusted between the cars and the slotted clip-piece already fastened on the said sweeps. If desired to drive the cars about the track by the impulse or power furnished by a motorcycle, the latter is placed in proper position on the track and connected with the outer end of a sweep through means for that purpose as has been described, and the cars are thus ready for propulsion on the track. When the power is desired derived from a stationary motor or engine, it will be evident that the motor cycle can be detached and all of the sweeps connected with cars as has been detailed. In the latter instance a cable or belt connects the engine with the drive-wheel and a brake provided on the frame-work serves to check the impulse the drive-wheel has received from the motor when its power is shut off. As the motive power begins, in either case, whet-her derived from a motorcycle or a stationary plant, the drivewheel turns, the double spiral spring loops attached to it are forced against the side of the sweeps passing therein, the said spirals of said double springs yielding and retracting against any sudden jar or motion caused by a. too sudden starting of the motor, thus causing the sweeps to easily start with the cars pivoted at their outer ends as easily beginning their journey about the runway or track.

It will be evident,more especially where a circular track set at an incline is preferred,that suitable provision should be made for the cars maintaining a horizontal position during their progress on the said circular track placed at an incline. This end I achieve through the pivot studs at either end of the car turning in an axle plate that carries the axle on which the wheels are placed. The car is further provided with a shield plate fastenedon the top side and carried downward in front of the axle plate and behind the axle. Thus the car and the shield plate together turn on the pivot stud with the axle plate between them. The axle plate is provided with stops at either side which limit the turning of the car in either direction and thus its normal horizontal position can be assured. This swinging movement of the car may, if found desirable, be arranged so as to be controlled by the occupant thereof, as I have shown in Fig. 3, where an aperture 0, is provided in the shield plate at the top side of the car through which is extended a controlling lever 19, which is continuous with and forms a part of the axle piece carried on the pivot stud between the said shield piece and axle as has been described, thus placing the turning action of the car under the immediate control of the person handling the said controlling lever.

It will be apparent that in place of providing the inner ends of the several sweeps with pig-tails superimposed on each other and turning on the central shaft with collars between, they might be attached to one common bearing or collar also turning on the said central drive shaft; but: the method of arrangement I have shown is preferred as affording a wider range for adjustment and operation of the sweeps where a greater number than is shown in Fig. 1, is at one time put in use, for of necessity there will be as many sweeps as cars, and if'as many cars were commissioned as the track could accommodate without dangerous interference with each other, no space would be afforded for arranging the ends on one common bearing collar.

Having thus described my invention and its operation, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States of America, is:

1. In an amusement apparatus of the character described, a frame work supporting a circular inclined runway or track and a shaft having a drive wheel centrally disposed within said circular inclined runway or track; sweeps pivotally connected on said centrally disposed shaft; double spring connections between said sweeps and said centrally disposed drive wheel in combination with vehicles on said circular inclined runway or track pivotally connected and arranged with the outer ends of said sweeps substantially as herein described and shown.

2. In an amusement apparatus of the character described, a frame work supporting a circular inclined runway or track and a shaft having a drive wheel centrally disposed within said circular inclined runway or track; sweeps provided with slotted clip pieces and pivotally connected on said centrally disposed shaft; double spring connections between said sweeps and said centrally disposed drive wheel in combination with vehicles on said circular inclined runway or track having pivoted bodies each pivotally connected and arranged with the outer end of said sweeps substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein described and shown.

3. In an amusement apparatus of the character described a frame work supporting a circular inclined runway or track and a shaft having a drive wheel centrally disposed within said circular inclined runway or track; sweeps having slotted clip pieces and pivotally connected on said centrally disposed shaft, double spring connections between said sweeps and said centrally disposed drive wheel, in combination with vehicles on said circular inclined runway or track having pivoted bodies provided each with a pivot post adapted for connection with the outer end of said sweeps, pivot studs at the ends, axle plates adapted for axles, and disposed on said pivot studs between the ends of the vehicle bodies and a shield plate fastened thereon, and connecting means between said vehicle bodies and said slotted clip pieces of said sweeps substantially as herein described and shown.

4. In an amusement apparatus of the character described a frame work supporting a circular inclined runway or track and a shaft having a drive wheel centrally disposed within said circular inclined runway or track; sweepshaving slotted clip pieces and pivotally connected on said centrally disposed shaft, double spring connections between said sweeps and said centrally disposed drive wheel, in combination with vehicles on said circular inclined runway or track having pivoted bodies each provided with a pivot post adapted for connection with the outer end of the respective sweep, pivot studs at the ends, axle plates adapted for axles and disposed on said pivot studs of said vehicle bodies between the ends thereof,

JOHN HENRY CURRAN.

Witnesses FRANK R. RATHBUN,

A. L. HEMINGWAY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

